The Eurovision Song Contest's time has run out

Time to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest

Denmark’s Soluna Samay performs during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest
Photo: AFP/Getty Images

6:59AM GMT 03 Dec 2012

SIR – In view of the withdrawal of Portugal and Poland from next year's Eurovision Song Contest, I hope that the UK will also take the opportunity to pull out of this outmoded event.

It has become a pop contest in which nations compete with offerings of appalling naffness. They are usually a horrible hybrid, bearing no relation to contemporary popular music, yet with none of the charm and wider appeal that the songs used to have. The concept of an open competition is undermined by the predictable political voting.

The reception of Eurovision has passed from genuine interest, through heavy irony, finally to be seen as an expensive farce. The expansion of EU has also seen the contest grow to unmanageable proportions. Please can we be excused too?